Congress returns with deadline looming on Zika funding

1of 3In this photo taken July 13, 2016, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Frieden, the head of the government's fight against the Zika virus said that "we are now essentially out of money" and warned that the country is "about to see a bunch of kids born with microcephaly" in the coming months. The warning came as lawmakers start to sort out a stopgap government funding bill that is being targeted to also carry long-delayed money to battle Zika. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta, STF

2of 3A member of the U.S. Army Chorus leads members of Congress in the singing of "God Bless America" at the conclusion of a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Sept. 9, 2016. (Al Drago/The New York Times)Photo: AL DRAGO, STF

3of 3﻿Congress needs to pass a funding bill to avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1. Members of Congress put partisanship aside Friday as they marked the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.Photo: AL DRAGO, STF

WASHINGTON - The head of the government's fight against the Zika virus said that "we are now essentially out of money" and warned that the country is "about to see a bunch of kids born with microcephaly" in the coming months.

Friday's warning from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Thomas Frieden came as lawmakers start to sort out a stopgap government funding bill that is being targeted to also carry long-delayed money to battle Zika.

Zika is spreading more widely in the U.S., and 671 pregnant women in the states and Washington, D.C., have the virus, leading to the birth of 17 babies with microcephaly so far.

Frieden said funding delays have slowed studies of the disease and production of new tests for it.

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9/11 lawsuit bill likely to be vetoed

WASHINGTON - Congress sent President Barack Obama a bipartisan bill that would allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals.

The White House has signaled Obama would veto the legislation.

Associated Press

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President Barack Obama in February requested $1.9 billion to fight Zika, but Republicans controlling Congress acted slowly on the request. A Capitol Hill fight this summer stalled the Zika aid. Republicans attached restrictions on any of the money going to affiliates of Planned Parenthood in Puerto Rico. Democrats objected and blocked the $1.1 billion measure.

Now, negotiations are underway to break the impasse and add it to the only piece of legislation that has to pass Congress before the election: A stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1.

Republicans are signaling they'll likely lift the restrictions.

A bipartisan consensus is emerging to fund the government through mid-December.